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corpus-paul - Re: Iconography of Paul with sword

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  • From: Jim Hester <hester AT jasper.uor.edu>
  • To: Corpus-paul <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
  • Subject: Re: Iconography of Paul with sword
  • Date: Fri, 02 Mar 2001 10:20:11 -0800


"Krist Krist" asks:

> Therefore my question is, have Paul's words in
> his Epistles (mostly Rom. and Eph.) been utilized by the official Church
> as a justification for violence / persecution towards heterodox
> communities?

You might take a look at Jan Botha's dissertation, Reading Romans 13. I have
an early copy printed in South Africa but I know it has been published in
the States somewhere.

I have noted the rhetoric of that iconography in the statuary in front of
the cathedral in Salzburg. As you face the front facade, the fortress looms
over you on the top of the ridge to your left; to your right is the building
that was the Rezidenz of the Prince-Archbishop. Flanking the passage to the
main door is a larger than life of Peter on the left and Paul, with sword,
on the right. It is hard to escape the argument that the church can wield
the power of the state in dealing with heterodoxy!

-------------------------------------------------------------------
Jim Hester "Never be afraid to try something new.
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hester AT uor.edu http://rhetjournal.uor.edu
http://www.ars-rhetorica.net







> From: "Krist Krist" <monsieurK AT hotmail.com>
> Reply-To: "Corpus-paul" <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
> Date: Thu, 1 Mar 2001 13:10:34 -0500
> To: "Corpus-paul" <corpus-paul AT franklin.oit.unc.edu>
> Subject: [corpus-paul] Iconography of Paul with sword
>
> I am not a specialist in Biblical studies, but an art historian studying a
> corpus of wall paintings including some representations of the Apostles
> with their traditional attributes (Andrew with a cross, Bartholomew with a
> knife...). Paul's attribute is a sword, the instrument of his martyrdom.
> But I am wondering if this iconography cannot be also interpreted as an
> allusion to his words in several Epistles, comparing the Word of God to a
> sword and enticing Christians to assume the arms of faith, etc. It should
> be said that these paintings were created in an anti-heretical context,
> namely in the 15th century Western Alps, where many heterodox communities
> dwelled, which condoned mostly the return to a litteral approach to the
> Gospel and non-violence. Does anyone have any info on this topic?
> Thanks in advance.
>
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